Apple is expected to announce facelifted iPad Pro models soon, with major changes to the entire device. If you want to decide to buy the M2 iPad Pro now, we recommend waiting for the release of the OLED iPad Pro. By then, you will not only get more upgraded features, but also new product pricing plans.
In addition, the OLED iPad Pro will undergo a major redesign, and its appearance and performance will be very different from existing models. To make it easier for you all, we've put together a list of changes to the OLED iPad Pro that will make the device a worthy upgrade.
iPad Pro with OLED display has been delayed in the past due to technical or production issues. However, the end-of-March timeframe has been speculated for some time, and we have high hopes for an early launch of the device. Apple is also under intense pressure to release updated iPad models, as it failed to upgrade any iPad models last year, as reflected in the company's overall revenue last year.
The OLED iPad Pro is expected to bring some significant improvements to the product line, and it will also be the first major design innovation for the device since 2018. We've reported multiple times on rumors and reports that the OLED-panelled iPad Pro might feature MagSafe charging. While the specifics are up to Apple to decide at this stage, there are various reasons why you should wait for the launch of the OLED iPad Pro rather than buy the current model with a mini-LED display.
iPad Pro finally joins the OLED ranks
One of the most important improvements to the iPad Pro is its new OLED display. Currently, the 11-inch iPad Pro is equipped with an IPSLCD panel, while the larger 12.9-inch model is equipped with a miniLED display. Reports suggest that both the 11-inch and 13-inch models will use OLED panels, so it's possible Apple could eliminate the display differences between the two sizes.
Compared with LCD and mini-LED displays, OLED panels have many advantages, such as deeper blacks, higher contrast, better dynamic range, etc., so if you want to buy one now for entertainment, we recommend you wait.
Compared with traditional LCD and miniLED displays, OLED displays not only have excellent image quality, but also consume less power. This will give the OLED iPad Pro longer battery life than existing models. Since the OLED display is thinner than the above-mentioned displays, it will also help achieve an overall thinner and lighter device.
OLED iPad Pro is getting bigger and thinner
The upcoming iPad Pro is going to be even bigger, and Apple can make that happen in a number of ways. The company plans to increase the screen size of the small iPad Pro to 11.1 inches and the large iPad Pro to 13.1 inches. It should be noted that the overall form factor of the device is likely to remain the same, while the larger screen size could be achieved with slimmer bezels on all four sides.
We've previously reported that Apple is aiming to make the iPad Pro significantly thinner than current models, and both models will stick with that change. The 11-inch iPad Pro is rumored to be 5.5mm thick, while the larger 13-inch model will be 5mm thick. Although some users will pose a "bend door" threat to their tablets, Apple may reinforce the body to prevent the iPad Pro from bending easily.
Front camera direction
Recent reports claim that Apple will equip the OLED iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air with the iPad 10’s landscape camera later this month. Currently, both the "Pro" and "Air" have front-facing cameras in portrait orientation, and since both devices are larger than smartphones, the upcoming model should put the sensor in landscape mode for better usability. Apple's archrival Samsung is taking the same approach with its new Galaxy S2 Ultra tablet.
The perfect combination of Apple’s latest M3 chip and iPad Pro
Apple introduced the M3 chip last year when it launched the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. We guess the OLED iPad Pro will have the same changes. Since the iPad Pro is not designed to accommodate a fan, Apple will set a cap on the chip's performance, but it will likely be comparable to the recently released MacBook Air models.
The latest M3 chip will leave room for a host of artificial intelligence-related features, which Apple will debut when it releases iPadOS 18 later this year. Speculations are that the company will also introduce new editing features to the iPad Pro and that the chip will be powerful enough to handle the processing on the device. In addition, the OLED iPad Pro equipped with the M3 chip can better use third-party editing software, such as Photoshop and its new artificial intelligence features.
MagSafe and new accessories
As part of the redesign, Apple is also expected to bring the iPhone's MagSafe technology to the OLED iPad Pro. Due to the larger size of the device, the company's application may be different as the technology can be used for charging purposes. Similar to MacBook, OLED iPad Pro can also use MagSafe charging technology to achieve a seamless user experience. With the new Magic Keyboard, the device could look more like a laptop than a tablet, according to past reports from Bloomberg. A large number of rumors indicate that Apple is developing a new version of Apple Pencil with upgraded functions, and the accessory may be released together with the new OLED iPad Pro.
Storage and pricing
According to earlier rumors, the OLED iPad Pro may have a storage capacity of up to 4TB, which is double that of existing models. This also means the company may increase the base storage capacity from 256GB to 512GB, but there are no details on that yet. With the larger storage capacity and major design changes, the OLED iPad Pro could also come at a hefty price tag, matching the price of the M3 Pro MacBook Pro.
Previous reports have stated that the starting price of the 11-inch basic OLED iPad Pro model may be as high as $1,500, and the starting price of the 13-inch basic model may be as high as $1,800. While the price is almost double that of the M2 version, it remains to be seen whether the latest upgrades can justify it. The higher cost is likely due to the use of OLED panels from LG and Samsung.
OLEDiPadPro released
As mentioned earlier, Apple may launch a new OLED iPad with upgraded design and functionality as soon as later this month. The company may hold a spring event to introduce the latest changes, but Mark Gurman said we should expect a press release on the official website rather than a formal event.